Nostalgia Nite Fundraiser The coming of the Railroad Era...

It was September of 1886 when the Chicago,  Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, engine #329, rolled into the prairie town of Hutchinson, MN.  The rails had already reached Glencoe in 1872, with a spur to Hutchinson finally being realized fourteen years later.   The coming of the railroad was cause for celebration and the saving of the Hutchinson Depot is also a cause worth celebrating!  So as a part of our 2014 Theme, "History of the Railroads of McLeod County," the  Museum would like to invite you to celebrate the "Coming of the Railroad Era" for our Nostalgia Nite Fundraiser!  With the official grand opening in June of this year, this will be a sneak peek of what this  newly renovated structure will look like.  The City of Hutchinson has done a tremendous amount of work to preserve this piece of Hutchinson's history, and the Historical Society will be highlighting that history with tours of the structure, including its historic coal drawn graffiti from the late 1800s thru the 1920s.  There will be a costume contest, for those brave enough to wear Victorian dress.  A railroad display of photos and artifacts, plus a chance to win great prizes donated by local businesses, for answering our McLeod County Railroad Trivia!  Oh, and best of all, we will be entertained by Hutchinson founders and performers, The Hutchinson Brothers!  As founders of the town, they will be signing the praises of the railroad and all it would bring to Hutchinson!  As an added treat, you will have the first chance to get your name in the drawing to win the honor of driving the golden spike, that will be used to christen the new structure at its grand opening in June!